Why Recycle Glass? | Conscious Caribbean

Why Recycle Glass?

Natural Resources Preservation

Recycling reduces the need for raw materials; An estimated 80 percent of recovered glass containers are made into new glass bottles.

Over a ton of natural resources are conserved for every ton of glass recycled, including 1,300 pounds of sand, 410 pounds of soda ash, 380 pounds of limestone, and 160 pounds of feldspar.

Pollution Reduction

Carbon Emissions - For every six tons of recycled glass used, a ton of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, is reduced. A relative 10% increase in "cullet" (furnace-ready, contaminant-free crushed glass) reduces particulates by 8%, nitrogen oxide by 4%, and sulfur oxides by 10%.

Landfills - Glass basically never decomposes, making it a poor candidate for landfill entombment! Experts suggest that it would take 1 million years for a simple glass bottle to completely break down under normal landfill conditions.

Energy and Production Savings

Using cullet to produce new glass consumes 25% less energy than glass produced with 100% raw materials.

Energy costs drop about 2-3% for every 10% cullet used in the manufacturing process.

Including cullet in the manufacturing mix makes it less corrosive and lowers the melting temperature, prolonging furnace life.

Useful Beyond Bottles and Jars

Some unique applications for recycled cullet include erosion-combating alterni-beach sand, glass countertops, fiberglass insulation, kitchen tiles, sand blasting grit and road aggregate / glassphalt.

And a Couple More Reasons

No processing by-products — Glass recycling is a closed-loop system, creating no additional waste or by-products.

Glass is one of the most sustainable consumer materials - it never loses its integrity during the recycling process and is infinitely recyclable...